A Quest to Bridge Data and Strategy in Real Estate

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Sarah Coppinger

Sarah Coppinger is a writer for Babson Thought & Action. With a passion for storytelling and an eye for strategy, Sarah enjoys writing about students’ diverse experiences at Babson and their outstanding career achievements as alumni. Babson’s entrepreneurial spirit fuels Sarah’s drive, and she is thrilled to contribute to its dynamic community. When Sarah’s not writing for Babson Thought & Action, she can be found spending time with her family, enjoying weekends away on Cape Cod, and brushing up on her skills as a hobby photographer.

February 3, 2026

A member of Babson’s inaugural DBA cohort, William Chase ’02, DBA’28 is the founder of Wound Dynamics, LLC, and a seasoned leader in real estate, where he brings data-driven strategy to leasing decisions and asset transformation. (Photo: Nic Czarnecki/Babson College)

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Editor’s note: As Babson’s new Doctor of Business Administration program begins, we are highlighting the individual entrepreneurial leaders who comprise the inaugural cohort. This is one in a series of DBA candidate profiles.

With nearly two decades of experience in commercial real estate, William Chase ’02, DBA’28 has managed everything from marinas to hotels and shopping centers, always seeking new ways to innovate and improve. His entrepreneurial spirit extends beyond property management—he has launched a medical device startup and guided organizations through the digital transformation of IT infrastructure.

Now, as a member of Babson’s inaugural Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) cohort, Chase is focused on turning data into actionable strategy for the industry he knows so well.

What drove you to want to pursue your DBA, and why did you choose Babson?

“I have always been interested in strategy and management theories, but the DBA provides the training and resources to evaluate new research independently with the potential to actively contribute to practical applications with new theories,” he said. “Research has always been a part of my work, but the DBA program provides the formal tools to enhance that capability and to expand the scope of said research.”

“Research has always been a part of my work, but the DBA program provides the formal tools to enhance that capability.”
William Chase ’02, DBA’28

What is the big problem you hope to solve, and what research area are you exploring?

Chase says there is a gap in commercial real estate: While there’s plenty of data on market rents and foot traffic, there’s a lack of strategy connecting day-to-day leasing decisions with larger asset transformations. “I want to bring more actionable intelligence to that lower-level area that is both theory and data driven,” he said.

His goal is to develop tools and frameworks that practitioners can use to make smarter, data-driven decisions.

What part of the program are you most looking forward to?

“I am looking forward to the dissertation, both from the background research and the potential utility of the final result. The DBA program gives me the motivation and ability to carry out that detailed research.”

What are your hopes and aspirations professionally after the DBA program?

“I believe the DBA program will enhance performance and effectiveness in my current role but will allow for easier expansion into new markets for my firm. I intend to stay in the corporate world instead of transitioning to academia, but I would still like to create and publish research at the rigor acceptable to management journals that can be used directly by practitioners.”

This is part of a series of profiles highlighting the individual entrepreneurial leaders in the inaugural cohort of Babson’s new Doctor of Business Administration program. Read more about Babson’s first DBA candidates.